ISI B.

Math Physics II
Problem Set I

1. Derive the adiabatic compressibility κad , whenqan ideal gas is quasi-statically and adiabatically
compressed. The speed of sound is given by c = ( ∂P ∂ρ )ad . Calculate the sound speed through air
at 1 atm, 0 C, and the change in speed with temperature.

2. If c is the speed of sound defined in Problem 1, and γ is the ratio of the specific heats at constant
pressure and constant volume, show that the internal energy u, and the enthalpy h = u + pv per
unit mass of an ideal gas may be expressed by the following expressions

c2
u= + constant
γ(γ − 1)

c2
h= + constant
γ−1

3. Show that the adiabatic compressibility κad and the isothermal compressibility κT are related by
cV
κad = κT
cP
where cV and cP are the specific heats at constant volume and constant pressure respectively.

4. A mole of ideal gas with pressure P1 and volume V1 is freely and adiabatically expanded to V2
while maintaining pressure at P2 . Finally the gas is heated quasi-statically until the pressure re-
turns to P1 while the volume remains V1 . This cycle is called Mayer’s cycle. Prove Mayer’s relation
cp − cv = R using this cycle. Assume that the molar specific heat is constant.

5. In a quasi-static process A → B(see diagram) in which no heat is exchanged with the environment,

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the mean pressure P̄ of a certain amount of gas is found to change with its volume V according to
the relation.
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P̄ = αV − 3
where α is a constant. Find the quasistatic work done and the net heat absorbed in each of the
following processes, all of which take the system from macrostate A to macrostate B.
(a) The system is expanded from its original to final volume, heat being added to keep the pressure
constant. The volume is then kept constant and heat is extracted to reduce the pressure to 106
dynes/cm2
(b) The volume is increased and heat is supplied to cause the pressure to decrease linearly with
volume.
(c) The two steps of process (a) are performed in the opposite order.

6. Consider the quasistatic process of an ideal gas shown in the figure. The change from 1 to 2 is an
isothermal expansion in contact with a heat bath at temperature T1 , that from 2 to 3 an adiabatic
expansion, that from 3 to 4 an isothermal compression in contact with a heat bath at temperature
T2 , and finally that from 4 to 1 an adiabatic compression. If the heat absorbed from the bath at
T1 is Q1 and the heat absorbed from the heat bath at T2 is Q2 show that
Q1 Q2
+ =0
T1 T2
7. Regarding the internal energy of a hydrostatic system to be a function of T and P , derive the
following equations
∂U
 
= CP − P V β
∂T P
∂U κ
 
= P V κ − (CP − CV )
∂P T β
8. One mole of a gas obeys the van der Waals equation of state
a
(p + )(v − b) = RT
v2
and its molar internal energy is given by u = cT − av ,where a, b, c are constants. Calculate the heat
capacities cV and cP .

9. An ideal gas is contained in a cylinder equipped with a frictionless, nonleaking piston of area A.
When the pressure is atmospheric P0 , the piston face is a distance l from the closed end. The gas
is compressed by moving the piston a distance x. Calculate the spring constant Fx of the gas
(a) Under isothermal conditions.
(b)under adiabatic conditions.

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(c)In what respect is a gas cushion superior to a steel spring?

10. The temperature of an ideal gas in a tube of very small cross-sectional area varies linearly from
one end (x = 0) to another end (x = L) according to the equation

TL − T0
T = T0 + x
L
If the volume of the tube is V and the pressure P is uniform throughout the tube, show that the
equation of state for n moles of gas is given by
TL − T0
P V = nR  
TL
ln T0

Show that when TL = T0 = T , the equation of state reduces to the obvious one, P V = nRT

11. . In this problem we consider a photon gas in thermal equilibrium at a temperature T . Such a
thermodynamic system is usually called black-body radiation. It is known that the internal energy
U of a photon gas is related to its volume V and temperature T by

U/V = cT 4 ,

where c is a constant. It is also known that the equation of state is given by

1 c
P = U/V = T 4
3 3
so that the pressure depends only on temperature.

a) Calculate how the temperature of a photon gas varies with volume during a quasi-static, re-
versible, and adiabatic compression of the gas. [Hint: You should find a result of the form T α V =
constant, with a specific value for the constant α.]

b) What is CV for a photon gas?

c) What is CP for a photon gas?